The Oreans

Chapter 27

Chapter 27
The First Part of the Journey

The script and his vision occupied so much of Alen's thought that he almost forgot the mission he and his friends were about to undertake. When the commander called them in his office and inquired on their preparations for it, he had to remain quiet to cover up for his negligence. With a silent resolve to pay more attention to his duties, he listened hard but uneasily as Adrien, Divan and Rafim reported what they had done in turn. Perhaps the commander had been so satisfied with the three. Or maybe he had not really counted on Alen much to do anything. Still, Alen was relieved when Lord Melvil did not require him to speak, but he proceeded at once to giving them the specific instructions for the journey, which might take five days at the most.

The day they were to leave for Peretine came. As planned, the four of them spent the past afternoon and night on duty at the palace's western gate. Since the regent had prearranged that no one else would be there, Princess Roseana, Miel and Erin, disguised as Orean trainees, joined them at about midnight without incident saved for a little mishap with Erin's hamster slipping out of its cage, setting the palace hounds close to an uproar. Rafim did something with the animals so when the Bronzeans came to take their turn three hours later everything looked normal and the party was able to go without arousing suspicion.

They reached the Melvil mansion with more degree of luck. Here though, they only stopped long enough to change into peasant clothing and receive Lord Melvil's blessing. Soon, they were out on the street again, this time with the princess and the young ladies in a coach and with a servant named Herman to drive it.

As long as it was night the four friends rode closely to the coach, two on each side. Alen sensed that like him the senior masters were anticipating an ambush and readying themselves for it.

When the sun peered over the horizon, Alen relaxed a little. He looked around him and saw that spring had completely wiped away the remnants of the past winter. The trees and bushes were bursting with life. Bird songs filled the air, intermingling with the sound of running water from somewhere nearby. If the princess were not with them, Alen would have suggested stopping a while and eating their breakfast here. As it was, he had to go along with his friends.

It was two hours past sunrise when they had breakfast at a reputable-looking inn. There, as they had agreed upon early on, they addressed each other on aliases. Adrien did much of the talking, creating the impression that he was a provincial taking his city friends to his hometown. Everyone followed his lead. Even Erin laughed with everybody, much to Alen's surprise.

At first, Alen felt uneasy, especially at having to treat the princess like an equal: Princess Roseana might have taken off her ceremonial mask, her brownish hair braided in two and been dressed in rags, but she was still different from them and might get offended. But as the royal heiress continued to smile unconcernedly through the charade, apparently enjoying what must have been a choking cover, Alen was put at his ease.

The show was a success. None in the inn had suspected who they really were. An old patron had even criticized them for being such a boisterous lot.

At every meal since then, the party just repeated the performance and got the same result. By the fourth day, Alen had already got so used to doing the act that he could address the princess without getting embarrassed.

For the princess' sake, the group took an hour's rest at noontime after lunch before they went on their way. They traveled as long as it was possible and stopped only for the night at covert taverns. In these momentary respites, the princess shared a room with the two girls while Alen and his friends remained in the common room, taking turns in keeping watch and snatching only a few hours nap by the fire, wrapped in rented blankets. Herman stayed at the stable to guard the coach and the horses. In the morning, allowances were of course made for the ladies' morning rituals while they, the men, had to content themselves with a quick wash together even before the break of dawn-that was with the sole exception of Rafim, who always had himself ready before everyone was up.